The long awaited new cruise terminal on D3 is finally under way. Planning permission runs out in July this year so they had to make a start or re-apply. Unfortunately it will impact on WOW despite the RSPB going through the application with a fine toothcomb to try and mitigate the effects. The bottom line is that the land is owned by the Harbour Commissioners and they can do what they want with it. RSPB can ask and advise but at the end of the day they call the shots.
The entrance to the new terminal is at the corner nearest to WOW and this means we will probably lose the belt of trees once the breeding season is over. The plans allow for a 1.6m path to Hide 2 but we are hopeful we might get a bit more. Access to the bottom gate will be via the terminal car park and there will be no access to the Lagan - only as far as Hide 2. The link below will take you to the planning portal, then search for Airport Road Belfast D3 if you want to look at the 99 documents which are there. The most recent ones from this year are results of surveys and impacts including the breeding guillemots and the relocation of two important plant species which colonised the area. I struggled to find the maps or I would have put them on!!
Northern Ireland Public Register (planningsystemni.gov.uk)
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| Diggers in place |
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| We will lose the trees on the left. |
The other main change is the temporary tern island which was put in place and had terns on it within 24 hours. There are a couple of pairs of arctic terns around, but try finding them!! Other than that the breeding season continues with shelduck, mallard, coot and black-headed gulls all with young and all in danger from the patrolling lesser black backs. I counted 120+ one week. The reserve is an excellent place on a dull damp day to sort out your swallows, martins and swifts. On bright sunny days they are absent but if it is damp and cloudy the place is teeming with all four species and you can brush up on your ID skills or try and teach newcomers the differences between them. Since my last post I have added little stint and house martin to the WOW list plus a totally unexpected barnacle goose-the first one I have ever seen here in 26 years of visiting. Probably feral but it flew in and flew out so it is on the list!!
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| Barnacle goose |
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| Spot the new island |
The North Down patch has been static since April as I have not been able to walk there. I finally managed to get there on Saturday and it was a breath of fresh air to be back. No stunning birds but really nice to walk, sit and breathe the sea air again.
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| View with flag iris |
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| What's not to like? |
Not really a lot of change in the lists apart from the whitethroat seen at the Flood Gates in Newtownards. I had time to sit with merlin again and it picked up quite a bit including a distant song thrush and a willow warbler which I had missed.
137: House martin
138: Little stint
139: Whitethroat
